Page 25 - BusinessWest May 26, 2025

Mindfulness and Mentorship
Steps to Building an Effective Relationship in the Workplace
BY CHELSEA RUSSELL AND MIA MCDONALD
Mentorship is essential in every career to help foster personal and profes-
sional growth among employees. These relationships are instrumental
in developing the culture of your business by improving performance,
increasing productivity, and encouraging continued learning.
Thoughtfully and strategically pairing individuals together to build a strong
and successful connection is a win all around. For both parties to obtain the
most benefit out of the mentor-mentee relationship, there are four main mental-
health and mindfulness practices that can be utilized: visualization, goal setting,
reflection, and gratitude.
Visualization
The first key in building a strong mentor-mentee relationship is visualiza-
tion. This mindfulness technique is a practice that, even when informally used,
can ensure that the mentor and mentee are on the same page when it comes to
what they are each looking to get out of the collaboration. The mentor and mentee
must come to the table with their own intrinsic motivation and determination to
succeed.
Visualization can help each person regularly see their end outcome and plan out
the processes that will help them get to their desired outcome. This practice can
also be used to manage stress and everyday obstacles by reminding everyone that
every step and obstacle is another day closer to the future and their vision.
Goal Setting
While visualization builds confidence and encourages forward thinking about
what the future could hold, goal setting takes the next step by making those visions
tangible. Mentors can offer invaluable help and guidance in setting and measur-
CHELSEA RUSSELL
MIA MCDONALD
“Establishing and setting
goals creates purpose and
provides a baseline for an
ongoing, supportive rela-
tionship, with measurable
benchmarks to continually
gauge progress.”
ing short and long-term goals; therefore, this should be a collaborative process.
Establishing and setting goals creates purpose and provides a baseline for an ongo-
ing, supportive relationship, with measurable benchmarks to continually gauge
progress.
Mentorship is about sharing and building on experiences to help define and
refine meaningful objectives. Therefore, a best practice to build accountability in
the mentorship would be to set up monthly check-ins to measure goal progression.
Goals can be fluid, as life happens and sometimes gets in the way of targets.
However, having a mentor champion your goals with you can help determine where
goals can be adjusted or what additional resources may be beneficial. Throughout
the mentorship, always remember to celebrate the accomplishments and bench-
marks along the way, no matter how big or
small.
Mentorship
Continued on page 26 >>
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